Sense amplifier with improved read access

ABSTRACT

A sensing circuit comprises a sense amplifier adapted to receive an input signal from a memory cell and to provide a first output signal on a first output node. An output amplifier is adapted to receive the first output signal and to provide a second output signal on a second output node. The output amplifier comprises an output amplifier pre-charge transistor coupled between a first power supply node and a second output node. The output amplifier pre-charge transistor is adapted to pre-charge the second output node to approximately the first power supply potential.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This present application is a continuation-in-part of co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 09/651,632, filed Aug. 30, 2000, the entirecontents of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to semiconductor memorydevices, and, more particularly, to sensing circuitry yielding animproved read access time.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0003] In many computer systems, high speed redundant memories arecommonly used to store recently used data or data that will likely beneeded very soon. These memories are referred to as cache memories. Acache memory mirrors data stored in the main memory of the computersystem, but because of its significantly higher speed, the cache memorymay supply data more quickly. Typically, dynamic random access memories(DRAMs) (synchronous or asynchronous) are used as main memory devicesdue to their relatively high densities. Cache memories are typicallystatic random access memories (SRAMs). SRAMs generally have lowerdensities than DRAMs, but they are significantly faster. Because oftheir higher speeds of operation, SRAMs find additional application invarious computer systems, and their use as cache memories is simply oneexample of their application. Other types of memories that are commonlyfound in computer systems include Flash, EAPROMs, EEPROMs, EPROMs,PROMs, ROMs, and variations of any of the above.

[0004] Various configurations of memory cells have been designed anddeveloped to reduce the silicon area consumed by the cells, to increasethe operating speed of the devices, and to achieve numerous other goals.Traditionally, for example, SRAM cells have been designed with eitherfour transistors and two polysilicon load resistors, or six transistors,using two PMOS devices as active load devices. Reduction of silicon areaconsumed by an SRAM cell, i.e., increasing the density of cells in anSRAM device, can be realized by using cells with as few transistors aspossible. In many stand-alone SRAM applications, polysilicon loadresistors have replaced the PMOS load transistors in the six-transistorcells. Resistive load inverters, however, have very asymmetricalswitching transients and have steady-state standby DC power dissipation.Accordingly, many SRAMs embedded in microprocessors have continued touse the six-transistor cells. Other SRAM designs have also beenproposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,726, issued Jan. 4, 2000,entitled “Four Device SRAM Cell With Single Bit Line,” describes a cellhaving four transistors and one polysilicon load resistor. Otherapproaches have used only four transistors and have relied upon thesub-threshold leakage of the transfer devices in place of load resistorsor transistors. These types of cells have been referred to as “loadless”four-transistor CMOS SRAM cells with no polysilicon resistor.

[0005] Besides reducing silicon area consumed by a cell, otherapproaches have been explored in an effort to increase the efficiency ofmemories. Moreover, various approaches have been proposed to increasethe speed with which memory cells may be accessed, for example, as whenreading the contents of the cell. Single-ended sense amplifiers as wellas a varied assortment of dual input sense amplifiers have been proposedand used. Regardless of the type of memory or the configuration of thememory cell, increasing the speed with which the cell may be accessed(i.e., decreasing access time) is, and will remain, a major concern.

[0006] By way of background and example only, FIG. 1 illustrates aconventional CMOS SRAM cell 10 in combination with a cross-coupled senseamplifier 20. The cell 10 could as well be a DRAM cell or some othermemory cell type. The cell 10 is coupled to the sense amplifier 20 byway of a bit line 58 and a complementary bit line 60. The cell 10includes two NMOS transistors 32, 34 and two resistors 36, 38. Thetransistor 32 and the resistor 36 are coupled in series between a powersupply voltage 42 and a ground potential 44. The transistor 34 and theresistor 38 are also coupled in series between the power supply voltage42 and the ground potential 44. The gate terminal of the transistor 32is coupled to a node 48 between the transistor 34 and the resistor 38,and the gate terminal of the transistor 34 is coupled to a node 46between the transistor 32 and the resistor 36. An access transistor 52couples the node 46 of the cell 10 to the complementary bit line 60, andan access transistor 54 couples the node 48 of the cell 10 to the bitline 58. An access signal will be provided on line 56 when the cell 10is to be coupled to the bit line 58 and the complementary bit line 60 sothat a datum stored in the cell 10 may be read by way of the senseamplifier 20. The cell 10 is a symmetrical SRAM cell.

[0007] The sense amplifier 20 includes two NMOS transistors 62, 64 andtwo PMOS transistors 66, 68. The transistor 62 and the transistor 66 arecoupled in series between a power supply voltage 42 and a groundpotential 44, and the transistor 64 and the transistor 68 are coupled inseries between the power supply voltage 42 and the ground potential 44.The gate of the transistor 62 is coupled to a node 72 between thetransistors 64 and 68, while the gate of the transistor 64 is coupled toa node 70 between the transistors 62 and 66. The node 72 of the senseamplifier 20 is coupled to the bit line 58, while the node 70 of thesense amplifier 20 is coupled to the complementary bit line 60. When thedatum in the cell 10 is to be read, the bit line 58 and thecomplementary bit line 60 are each pre-charged to a value ofapproximately one-half the full power supply voltage, or VDD/2. A datumis represented by one of two possible states in which the cell 10 may bemaintained. For example, a logical “zero” may be represented in the cell10 when the node 46 is at or near the ground potential and the node 48is at or near the power supply potential. A logical “one” might beindicated by the node 48 being at or close to the ground potential andthe node 46 being at or close to the power supply potential.

[0008] For purposes of explanation, assume the cell 10 stores a logical“one,” meaning the node 48 is at or near the ground potential and thenode 46 is at or near the power supply potential. Because the cell 10 issymmetrical, sensing a logical “one” or logical “zero” will require thesame amount of time. After the bit line 58 and the complementary bitline 60 have been precharged to approximately one-half the power supplypotential (by circuitry not shown), an access signal is provided on theline 56 to turn on the access transistors 52 and 54 to couple the nodes46 and 48 to the complementary bit line 60 and the bit line 58,respectively. Because the node 48 is at a low potential, the transistor32 is in an “off,” or non-conducting, state, and because the node 46 isat a high potential, the transistor 34 is in its “on,” or conducting,state. When the nodes 46 and 48 are coupled to the complementary bitline 60 and the bit line 58, respectively, the conducting transistor 34will begin to pull the potential on the bit line 58 toward the groundpotential. Conversely, because the transistor 32 remains in anon-conducting, or essentially non-conducting, state, the potential onthe complementary bit line 60 is pulled up toward the power supplypotential through the resistor 36. As a differential voltage appearsbetween the bit line 58 and the complementary bit line 60, the senseamplifier 20 will amplify the difference and drive the bit line 58 toground potential and the complementary bit line 60 to the power supplypotential. Output circuitry (not shown) will utilize the potential onthe bit line 58 or the potential on the complementary bit line 60, orboth, to produce an output signal indicative of the datum stored in thecell 10.

[0009] As further background and example, FIG. 2 illustrates a readoperation on a conventional SRAM cell 100 using single-sided sensingwhen the bit lines are pre-charged to a high potential (rather thanVDD/2). The cell 100 in FIG. 2 is identical to the cell 10 in FIG. 1.But, the cell 10 in FIG. 1 is coupled to a two-input sensing amplifier,whereas the sensing amplifier in FIG. 2 is single-sided. Depending onthe state of the memory cell 100, either transistor 102 or transistor104 will be conducting while the other is not conducting. When atransfer device (e.g., transistor 118) is activated to read the cell100, the bit line is initially at a high potential, and if thetransistor 104 in the cell is in a conducting state, it pulls the bitline toward ground potential. In the example of FIG. 2, the signal onthe line 126 to the sense amplifier is in reality only single-sided, orsingle-ended. The signal is not differential and, as such, is moresusceptible to common mode noise.

[0010] Static CMOS and static pseudo-NMOS logic circuits are widely usedin CMOS technology in integrated circuits. Static CMOS has, for example,been widely used in the design of microprocessors. One problem relatedto static circuits is the asymmetrical switching characteristics, thatis, the time required to pull down the output is generally much shorterthan the time required to pull up the input. Thus, the normal stagepropagation delay, tp, is then determined primarily by the slow pull uptime. If a series of static CMOS logic circuits, in the simplest caseinverters, are connected in a chain, then when the circuit is enabled oractivated and the input changes state, every output must change state.This results in a long signal delay through the chain, is wasteful ofenergy, and causes high power dissipation.

[0011] The present invention is directed to sensing circuitry thatprovides decreased read access times while achieving greater stabilityand reliability in operation. The present invention relates to sensingcircuitry where the output is predicted in advance of reading a memorycell. This prediction is reflected in pre-charging at output nodes inthe circuitry. While, on average, this prediction may be wrongapproximately one-half the time, the result in one exemplary embodimentis an overall reduction in access time of about 50%.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In one aspect of the present invention, a sense amplifier for anintegrated circuit memory comprises first and second output nodes, and apre-charged transistor coupled to the second output node and adapted topre-charge the second output node to approximately a first power supplypotential. The first output node is adapted to be pre-charged to asecond power supply potential, and the sense amplifier is adapted toprovide first and second output signals at the first and second outputnodes, respectively, in response to at least a first input signal.

[0013] In another aspect of the present invention, a memory cell andsense amplifier combination in an integrated circuit comprises first andsecond output nodes, a first transistor coupled between a first powersupply node and the first output node, a second transistor coupledbetween the first output node and a second power supply node, the secondtransistor having a gate terminal coupled to a first bit line, and athird transistor coupled between the first power supply node and thesecond output node. The combination further comprises a fourthtransistor coupled between the first power supply node and the secondoutput node, the fourth transistor having a gate terminal coupled to aclock signal line, the fourth transistor being adapted to pre-charge thesecond output node to approximately a potential at the first powersupply node. A fifth transistor is coupled between the second outputnode and the second power supply node, and the fifth transistor has agate terminal coupled to a second bit line. The first output node isadapted to be pre-charged to approximately a potential at the secondpower supply node, and the sense amplifier is adapted to provide firstand second output signals at the first and second output nodes,respectively, in response to signals on the first and second bit linesand a clock signal on the clock signal line. A memory cell is adapted tobe controllably coupled to the first bit line.

[0014] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a sensing circuitcomprises a sense amplifier adapted to receive an input signal from amemory cell and to provide a first output signal on a first output node.An output amplifier is adapted to receive the first output signal and toprovide a second output signal on a second output node. The senseamplifier comprises a sense amplifier pre-charge transistor coupledbetween a first power supply node and the first output node, and thesense amplifier pre-charge transistor is adapted to pre-charge the firstoutput node to approximately a first power supply potential. The outputamplifier comprises an output amplifier pre-charge transistor coupledbetween the first power supply node and the second output node, and theoutput amplifier pre-charge transistor is adapted to pre-charge thesecond output node to approximately the first power supply potential.

[0015] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a sensing circuitcomprises a sense amplifier adapted to receive an input signal from amemory cell and a reference signal. The sense amplifier is adapted toproduce a first output signal indicative of a difference between theinput signal and the reference signal. An amplifier circuit is coupledto the sense amplifier and is adapted to receive the first output signalfrom the sense amplifier. The amplifier circuit is adapted to produce anamplifier output signal on an output line. The amplifier circuitcomprises a pre-charge transistor coupled between a first power supplynode and the output node, and the pre-charge transistor is adapted topre-charge the output node to approximately a first power supplypotential.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention may be understood by reference to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional CMOS SRAM cell in combinationwith a cross-coupled sense amplifier;

[0018]FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional SRAM cell as used in asingle-sided sensing arrangement;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative SRAM cell thatmay utilize the sensing circuitry of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative SRAM cellcombined with a conventional cross-coupled sense amplifier;

[0021] FIGS. 5A-5D are schematic diagrams of one illustrative embodimentof a sense amplifier and output circuitry embodying aspects of thepresent invention;

[0022]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a combination of theSRAM cell 140 of FIG. 3 and the sense amplifier 300 of FIG. 5A;

[0023]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a combination of astatic memory cell and a sense amplifier and output circuitry thatembodies aspects of the present invention; and

[0024]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a combination of adynamic memory cell and a sense amplifier and output circuitry thatembodies aspects of the present invention.

[0025] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that the description herein of specificembodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particularforms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. Inthe interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementationare described in this specification. It will of course be appreciatedthat in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerousimplementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve thedevelopers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related andbusiness-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation toanother. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effortmight be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routineundertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit ofthis disclosure.

[0027] The present invention will now be described with reference toFIGS. 3-4. In general, the present invention is directed to new sensingcircuitry for improved access times in reading memory cells. Theillustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-4 and described herein utilizesn-channel and p-channel transistors in particular arrangements, as shownand as illustrated in combination with an SRAM memory cell. However, aswill be readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon acomplete reading of the present application, the present invention isapplicable to a variety of technologies, e.g., NMOS, PMOS, CMOS, SOI,etc., and the sensing circuitry of the present invention may be realizedusing a variety of transistors and devices in other forms and/orarrangements. Moreover, the sense circuitry that embodies the presentinvention may be utilized with any of a variety of memory cell types,e.g., DRAM, SRAM, Flash, EPROM, etc., memory cells. Further, the presentinvention will find application in a wide variety of integrated circuitdevices, including, but not limited to, microprocessors, logic devices,memory devices, etc. Accordingly, the attached drawings and descriptionherein are intended only to describe and explain illustrative examplesof the present invention.

[0028] The illustrative embodiment of a memory cell described herein maybe realized using various semiconductor manufacturing technologies. Inparticular, the memory cell may be realized using SOI technology. In SOItechnology, PMOS devices and NMOS devices may be made with equal ease,as neither requires a separate substrate well, as in common in CMOStechnology. Moreover, in SOI technology, as devices are scaled to deepsubmicron dimensions, the difference in performance between PMOS andNMOS devices becomes smaller since the saturation drift velocity forholes and electrons are not substantially different. Thus, while apreferred embodiment of a memory cell described herein is manufacturedusing SOI technology, a variety of other semiconductor manufacturingtechnologies may be used to gain all or many of the benefits of thepresent invention. Moreover, a variety of memory types (SRAM, DRAM,Flash, EPROM, etc.) may be used to advantage in combination with theexemplary sensing circuitry described below.

[0029] The illustrative SRAM cell described below allows faster readaccess times than conventional cells. As will be described more fullybelow, the improvement in read time performance arises, at least inpart, by virtue of using one transistor (e.g., an NMOS transistor) topull down one bit line in a memory array and another transistor (e.g., aPMOS transistor) to pull up another bit line in reading the datum storedin the cell. By using one transistor to pull down one bit line andanother transistor to pull up another bit line, a faster differentialsignal is provided on the bit lines. In known configurations, where thebit lines are charged by resistive loads, the signal is slow bycomparison. By combining the illustrative SRAM cell with a “predictedoutput” sensing arrangement, also described below, the access time inone state can be made essentially zero. The access delay in the otherstate can be made minimal, as the delay through three stages of senseamplification and output drivers may typically be the delay of only asingle gate. The net result is a very fast read access.

[0030]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of one illustrative SRAM cell 140.The cell 140 includes one NMOS transistor 142 and one PMOS transistor146, as well as two resistors 144, 148. Access transistors 154, 156enable coupling of the cell 140 to a bit line 164 and a complementarybit line 166. The transistor 142 and the resistor 144 are coupled inseries between a first power supply potential 158 and a second powersupply potential 160. The transistor 146 and the resistor 148 arecoupled in series between the power supply potential 158 and the secondpower supply potential 160. In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 3,the first power supply potential 158 is a positive power supplypotential 158, and the second power supply potential 160 is anelectrical ground potential 160. Throughout the remainder of thisdescription of the illustrative embodiments of the invention, it will beassumed that the first and second power supply potentials 158, 160 arerealized as positive and ground potentials, respectively. In otherembodiments, other power supply potentials may be substituted for thepositive potential and ground potential.

[0031] A gate terminal of the transistor 142 is coupled to a node 152between the transistor 146 and the resistor 148. A gate terminal of thetransistor 146 is coupled to a node 150 between the transistor 142 andthe resistor 144. When in its conducting state, the transistor 142serves to maintain the voltage at the node 150 at or near the groundpotential 160. When in its conducting state, the transistor 146 servesto maintain the voltage at the node 152 at or near the power supplypotential 158. When the transistor 142 is in its conducting state, thetransistor 142 and the resistor 144 form a DC current path between thepower supply potential 158 and the ground potential 160. When thetransistor 146 is in its conducting state, the transistor 146 and theresistor 148 form a DC conductive path between the power supplypotential 158 and the ground potential 160. When the transistors 142,146 are in their non-conducting states, no DC current path will exist inthe cell 140. When the cell 140 is in either of two stable states, thetransistors 142, 146 will either both be conducting or both benon-conducting.

[0032] As a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate with thebenefit of the present disclosure, the cell 140 is capable of storing adatum of information as represented by one of the two possible stablestates of the cell 140. In one state, the node 152 will be at or nearthe ground potential 160 and the node 150 will be at or near the powersupply potential 158. In this state, the transistors 142, 146 will bothbe in their non-conducting states. For purposes of explaining theoperation of the cell 140 in FIG. 3, this state will be designated alogical “one.” In a second state of the cell 140, the node 152 will beat or near the power supply potential 158, and the node 150 will be ator near the ground potential 160. In this state, the transistors 142,146 will both be in their conducting states. For purposes of explainingthe operation of the cell 140, this state of the cell 140 will bedesignated as a logical “zero.”

[0033] Assume first that the cell 140 stores a logical “one” datum. Thenode 152 will be at or near the ground potential 160, and because thenode 152 is coupled to the gate of the transistor 142, the transistor142 will be in a non-conducting state. In that state, the transistor 142cannot discharge any potential at the node 150 to the ground potential160. Also, because the cell 140 is storing a logical “one,” the node 150will be at or near the power supply potential 158. Because the node 150is coupled to the gate of the PMOS transistor 146, the transistor 146will be in its non-conducting state as well. In this non-conductingstate, the transistor 146 will be prevented from pulling the voltage atthe node 152 toward the power supply potential 158. In this logical“one” state, no DC current path exists in the cell 140. With the cell140 in this logical “one” state, if the cell 140 is to be “read,” usingthe sense amplifier arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, the bit line 164and the complementary bit line 166 will each be pre-charged to a valueof approximately one-half the power supply potential. An access signalwill be provided on the line 162 to enable the access transistors 154and 156 to couple the cell 140 to the bit line 164 and the complementarybit line 166, respectively. At that time, because the transistor 142 isnon-conducting, or essentially non-conducting, the node 150, and thusthe bit line 164, will be pulled toward the power supply potential 158through the resistor 144. At the same time, because the transistor 146is non-conducting, or essentially non-conducting, the potential at thenode 152, and thus the potential on the complementary bit line 166, willbe pulled toward the ground potential 160 through the resistor 148. Inthis manner, a differential voltage will appear between the bit line 164and the complementary bit line 166. That differential will then beamplified by way of a sense amplifier, such as, for example, the senseamplifier 20 illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0034] Assume now that the cell 140 in FIG. 3 stores a logical “zero.”In that state, the node 152 will be at or near the power supplypotential 158, and the node 150 will be at or near the ground potential160. The transistor 142 will be in its conducting state, maintaining thepotential at the node 150 at or near the ground potential 160. Thetransistor 146 will also be in its conducting state, maintaining thevoltage at the node 152 at or near the power supply potential 158. Inthis state, two parallel DC current paths will exist in the cell, thefirst through the transistor 142 and the resistor 144, and the secondthrough the transistor 146 and the resistor 148. The resistors 144 and148 may be sized so as to minimize the magnitude of DC current flowingthrough the cell, while at the same time not unduly restricting currentflow, which will be needed when a logical “one” state is read from thecell as described above.

[0035] In certain configurations and under certain conditions, the cell140 may be sensitive to leakage currents, noise and upset. If the NMOStransistor 142 is “off,” then the node 150 may be sensitive to leakagecurrent or noise, causing the potential on the node 150 to decrease andthereby allowing the PMOS transistor 146 to possibly turn “on.” If thePMOS transistor 146 becomes active and the loop gain is larger than one,then the cell 140 can be “upset” or caused to switch states, resultingin a data error. Larger values of the resistor 144 make the cell 140more sensitive to being upset. Likewise, if the PMOS transistor 146 is“off,” the node 152 may be sensitive to noise and sub-threshold leakage,causing the voltage at the node 152 to increase, and thereby allowingthe NMOS transistor 142 to possibly turn “on.” If the NMOS transistor142 turns “on” and if the loop gain becomes larger than one, the cell140 can be upset. If the NMOS transistor 142 and the PMOS transistor 146are “on” (e.g., if the cell 140 is storing a logical “zero”), they arein a low resistance state, and the cell 140 is insensitive to beingupset.

[0036] Larger and larger values of the resistors 144, 148 make the cell140 more sensitive to being upset. However, larger load resistors 144,148 result in less power dissipation. Where the power supply potential158 is 2.5 VDC, if the potential at the node 150 decreases below about0.8 VDC, the gain will become larger than one and the cell 140 will beupset. Likewise, if the node 152 increases above about 0.2 VDC due tonoise or sub-threshold leakage, the cell 140 can be upset. In oneembodiment, selecting the resistors 144, 148 to be in the range ofapproximately 100 k ohms -200 k ohms adequately minimizes powerdissipation while achieving satisfactory cell stability. Other resistorsizes may also be satisfactory, or indeed may be more desirable, incells having various differing characteristics and/or configurations, orin circumstances involving different power supply voltages. A primaryobjective in sizing the resistors 144, 148 is the trade-off between cellstability and power dissipation and the optimization of that trade-off.

[0037] Continuing with FIG. 3, when the logical “zero” state of the cell140 is to be read using, for example, the sense amplifier 20 illustratedin FIG. 1, the bit line 164 and the complementary bit line 166 will eachbe pre-charged to a potential of approximately one-half the power supplypotential 158. At that time, an access signal will be provided on theline 162, enabling the access transistors 154 and 156 to couple the cell140 to the bit line 164 and the complementary bit line 166,respectively. When the cell 140 has been thus coupled, the transistor142, because it is in its conducting state, will begin to pull thevoltage level on the bit line 164 toward the ground potential 160. Atthe same time, because the transistor 146 is also in its conductingstate, the voltage on the complementary bit line 166 will be pulledtoward the power supply potential 158. A potential difference willappear between the bit line 164 and the complementary bit line 166, andthat differential will again be magnified by way of, for example, asense amplifier such as the sense amplifier 20 illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0038] To further explain the operation of one illustrative example ofthe memory cell, FIG. 4 illustrates one particular SRAM cell 200essentially identical to the SRAM cell 140 of FIG. 3 in combination witha sense amplifier 202. The cell 200 is coupled to the sense amplifier202 by way of a bit line 204 and a complementary bit line 206. The cell200 includes an NMOS transistor 210 coupled in series with a resistor212 between a power supply potential 218 and a ground potential 220. Thecell 200 also includes a PMOS transistor 214 coupled in series with aresistor 216 between the power supply potential 218 and the groundpotential 220. A gate of the NMOS transistor 210 is coupled to a node224 between the transistor 214 and the resistor 216, while a gate of thePMOS transistor 214 is coupled to a node 222 between the transistor 210and the resistor 212. The node 222 may be coupled to the bit line 204 byway of an access transistor 226 when an access enable signal is providedat the line 230. The node 224 may be coupled to the complementary bitline 206 by way of an access transistor 228 when the access enablesignal is provided at the line 230. The storing of a logical “zero” orlogical “one” datum in the cell 200 was explained above in conjunctionwith the cell 140 in FIG. 3.

[0039] The sense amplifier 202 in FIG. 4 includes an NMOS transistor 240and a PMOS transistor 242 coupled in series between a power supplypotential 248 and a ground potential 250. The sense amplifier 202 alsoincludes an NMOS transistor 244 and a PMOS transistor 246 coupled inseries between the power supply potential 248 and the ground potential250. A gate of the NMOS transistor 240 is coupled to a gate of the PMOStransistor 242, and the gates of the transistors 240 and 242 are coupledto a node 254 between the transistor 244 and the transistor 246. A gateof the NMOS transistor 244 is coupled to a gate of the PMOS transistor246, and the gates of the transistors 244 and 246 are coupled to a node252 between the transistor 240 and the transistor 242.

[0040] In reading a datum from the cell 200, the bit line 204 andcomplementary bit line 206 may each be pre-charged to a value of VDD/2,or approximately one-half the power supply potential. Thereafter, thesense amplifier 202 may magnify a potential difference induced on thebit line 204 and complementary bit line 206 by the action of the cell200. Because the cell 200 is asymmetrical, the response time for thesensing operation depends on which of the two stable states exists inthe cell 200. When the transistors 210. 214 are non-conducting, theresistor 212 will attempt to pull the bit line 204 up while the resistor216 will attempt to pull the complementary bit line down. This situation(as compared to the transistors 210, 214 in their conducting states)provides the slower read response. For example, when the resistors 210,214 are each about 100 k ohms, and when the cell 200 is used inconjunction with the conventional sense amplifier 202 of FIG. 4,approximately 2.0 nanoseconds is required for a 0.25 volt change in theoutput of the sense amplifier 202.

[0041] FIGS. 5A-5D are schematic diagrams of one illustrative senseamplifier and output circuitry embodying aspects of the presentinvention. The configuration and operation of the particular senseamplifier and output circuitry of FIGS. 5A-5D provides significantlyshorter read access times than provided by conventional devices. In oneembodiment, the cell 140 of FIG. 3 may be combined with the senseamplifier 300 and output circuitry, 302, 304, 306 of FIGS. 5A-5D toprovide read access times as much as three times faster thancombinations of conventional cells and circuitry.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 5A-5D, the sense amplifier 300 is coupled to abit line 338 and a complementary bit line 340 and provides outputs X andX′. The signals X and X′ are both coupled to each of the driveramplifiers 302 and 304. The signal X is coupled to a gate of thetransistor 342 in the driver amplifier 302 and to a gate of thetransistor 380 in the driver amplifier 304. The signal X′ is coupled toa gate of the transistor 348 in the driver amplifier 302 and to a gateof the transistor 374 in the driver amplifier 304. The driver amplifiers302 and 304 produce signals Y and Y′, respectively. The signals Y and Y′are coupled as input signals to the output driver 306.

[0043] The sense amplifier 300 includes an NMOS transistor 314 coupledin series with a PMOS transistor 316 between a power supply potential318 and a node 320 in the sense amplifier 300. An NMOS transistor 310 iscoupled in series with a PMOS transistor 312 between the power supplypotential 318 and the node 320. A PMOS transistor 328 is coupled inparallel to the PMOS transistor 312, that is, the PMOS transistor 328 iscoupled between the power supply potential 318 and a node 334 betweenthe transistors 310 and 312. The gates of the PMOS transistors 316 and312 are coupled together, and together are coupled to a ground potential332. Thus, the PMOS transistors 312 and 316 are maintained in theirconducting states. The PMOS transistor 328 is biased at its gate by aclock signal phi1 on the line 330, as will be more fully explainedbelow. The PMOS transistor 328 will provide a pre-charge function,enabling the pre-charge of the node 334 to a high potential. The node320 in the sense amplifier 300 is coupled to a ground potential 324through an NMOS transistor 322 that is biased at its gate by the clocksignal phi1 on the line 326. A bit line 338 is coupled to the gate ofthe NMOS transistor 310, while a complementary bit line 340 is coupledto the gate terminal of the NMOS transistor 314. Through an operation ofthe sense amplifier 300, the signal X will be provided at the node 334,and the signal X′ will be provided at the node 336.

[0044] The driver amplifier 302 includes an NMOS transistor 348 coupledin series with a PMOS transistor 346 between a power supply potential358 and a node 360. An NMOS transistor 342 is coupled in series with aPMOS transistor 344 between the power supply potential 358 and the node360. A PMOS transistor 354 is coupled in parallel with the PMOStransistor 344, that is, the PMOS transistor 354 is coupled between thepower supply potential 358 and a node 352 between the transistors 342and 344. The gate terminals of the PMOS transistors 344 and 346 arecoupled together, and together they are coupled to a node 350 betweenthe transistors 346 and 348. The gate of the PMOS transistor 354 isbiased by a clock signal phi2 on the line 356. The node 360 is coupledto a ground potential 364 through an NMOS transistor 362 which is biasedat its gate by the clock signal phi2 on the line 366. The gate of thetransistor 342 is coupled at line 368 to receive the signal X from thesense amplifier 300. The gate of the transistor 348 is coupled at line370 to receive the signal X′ from the sense amplifier 300. The driveramplifier 302 provides an output signal Y at the node 352 on line 372.The clock signal phi2 lags the clock signal phi1 by an amount of timesufficient for the sense amplifier 300 to provide valid signals X and X′to the driver amplifier 302.

[0045] The driver amplifier 304 includes an NMOS transistor 380 coupledin series with a PMOS transistor 378 between a power supply potential390 and a node 392. An NMOS transistor 374 is coupled in series with aPMOS transistor 376 between the power supply potential 390 and the node392. A PMOS transistor 386 is coupled in parallel with the PMOStransistor 376, that is, the PMOS transistor 386 is coupled between thepower supply potential 390 and a node 384 between the transistors 374and 376. The gate terminals of the PMOS transistors 376 and 378 arecoupled together, and together they are coupled to a node 382 betweenthe transistors 378 and 380. The gate of the PMOS transistor 386 isbiased by the clock signal phi2 on the line 388. The node 392 is coupledto a ground potential 396 through an NMOS transistor 394 which is biasedat its gate by the clock signal phi2 on the line 398. The gate of thetransistor 374 is coupled at line 400 to receive the signal X′ from thesense amplifier 300. The gate of the transistor 380 is coupled at line402 to receive the signal X from the sense amplifier 300. The driveramplifier 304 provides an output a signal Y′ at the node 384 on line404.

[0046] The output driver 306 includes an NMOS transistor 412 coupled inseries with a PMOS transistor 410 between a power supply potential 422and a node 424. An NMOS transistor 406 is coupled in series with a PMOStransistor 408 between the power supply potential 422 and the node 424.A PMOS transistor 418 is coupled in parallel with the PMOS transistor408, that is, the PMOS transistor 418 is coupled between the powersupply potential 422 and a node 416 between the transistors 406 and 408.The gate terminals of the PMOS transistors 408 and 410 are coupledtogether, and together they are coupled to a node 414 between thetransistors 410 and 412. The gate of the PMOS transistor 418 is biasedby a clock signal phi3 on the line 420. The node 424 is coupled to aground potential 428 through an NMOS transistor 426 which is biased atits gate by the clock signal phi3 on the line 430. The gate of thetransistor 406 is coupled at line 432 to receive the signal Y from thedriver amplifier 302. The gate of the transistor 412 is coupled at line434 to receive the signal Y′ from the driver amplifier 304. The outputdriver 306 provides an output signal OUTPUT at the node 416 on line 436.The clock signal phi3 lags the clock signal phi2 by an amount of timesufficient for the driver amplifiers 302, 304 to provide valid signals Yand Y′ to the output driver 306.

[0047]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a combination of theSRAM cell 140 of FIG. 3 and the sense amplifier 300 of FIG. 5A. In thiscombination, the bit line 164 of FIG. 3 corresponds to the bit line 340of FIG. 5A, and the complementary bit line 166 of FIG. 3 corresponds tothe complementary bit line 338 of FIG. 5A. As already mentioned, theSRAM cell 140 is asymmetrical, and the read response time for the cell140 is slower when the cell 140 stores a logical “one” datum than whenthe cell 140 stores a logical “zero” datum. The logical “one” state ofthe cell 140 represents that state in which both of the transistors 142,146 are non-conducting. The node 150 is at a high potential, and thenode 152 is at a low potential. The logical “zero” state of the cell 140represents that state in which both of the transistors 142, 146 areconducting. The node 150 is at a low potential, and the node 152 is at ahigh potential. When the cell 140 is to be coupled to the senseamplifier 300 for sensing the state of the cell 140, the bit line 164will be pre-charged to a high potential, and the complementary bit line166 will be pre-charged to a low potential (essentially groundpotential). In other words, the bit line 164 and the complementary bitline 166 are pre-charged to a state that would be the result obtained inthe event a logical “one” is stored in the cell 140. That is, the outputwill be predicted to be a logical “one.” When the cell 140 is coupled tothe pre-charged bit line 164 and complementary bit line 166, if alogical “one” is stored in the cell 140, no charging of the bit line 164through the resistor 144 or discharging of the complementary bit line166 through the resistor 148 will be necessary. If a logical “zero” isstored in the cell 140, the bit line 164 will be discharged through thetransistor 142, and the complementary bit line 166 will be chargedthrough the transistor 146.

[0048] The time required to discharge and charge, respectively, thecapacitive loads of the bit line 164 and complementary bit line 166through the transistors 142, 146 is much less than the time required tocharge and discharge, respectively, the bit line 164 and thecomplementary bit line 166 through the resistors 144 and 148. Moreover,switching transients on resistive load inverters are wildlyasymmetrical. The transient where the active transistor is dischargingthe capacitive load is almost an order of magnitude shorter in time thanthe transient where the load resistor charges the capacitive load. As aresult of the fully differential signal and faster charging transientswhen the transistors 142 and 146 are both conducting in the SRAM cell140, the output of the sense amplifier 300 takes only about 1.0nanoseconds to change by 0.25 volts. This is about three times fasterthan that for the conventional SRAM cell read sense operation. Thus,combining the SRAM cell 140 with the “predicted output” sense amplifier300 with clocked sense amplifiers results in very fast read accesstimes.

[0049] In a typical collection of memory cells, on average, onlyone-half the cells will store a logical “zero.” Thus, in a collection ofSRAM cells such as the cell 140, on average, only one-half half thecells will conduct DC current. On average, one-half the time, thetransistors 142, 146 will both be non-conducting and the resistive loads144, 148 will maintain one output high and the other output low. Theresistive loads 144, 148 serve only to maintain one of the output nodes150 of the cell 140 high and the other output node 152 of the cell 140low when both of the transistors 142, 146 are non-conducting. When theaccess transistors 154, 156 couple the cell 140 to the lines 164, 166when both transistors 142, 146 are non-conducting, there will be nochange in the state of the lines 164, 166. Thus, the resistors 144, 148play no role in charging or discharging the lines 164, 166 duringsensing. On the other hand, the transistors 142, 146 can quicklydischarge and charge, respectively, the lines 164, 166.

[0050] In the sense amplifier 300, as well as in the driver amplifiers302, 304 and output driver 306 (see FIGS. 5A-5D), the slowest transitionis from low to high, where the PMOS transistor 312, 344, 376 or 408charges up the output node 334, 352, 384 or 416, respectively.Accordingly, the output nodes are all preferably pre-charged high, andthe only transition possible in the sense amplifier 300, driveramplifiers 302, 304 or output driver 306 is the faster high-to-lowtransition. If a “one” is stored in the cell 140, then during sensingand during clocking of the amplifiers, only the output node 352 of thedriver amplifier 302 (see FIG. 5B) must change state, from high to low.Also, because of the gain of the amplifiers, the output node 352 of thedriver amplifier 302 need not be pulled completely low before its outputsignal is valid. The output signal will be valid shortly after the clocksignal phi2 goes high and essentially valid when the clock signal phi3goes high. If a “zero” is stored in the cell 140, then during sensingand clocking, the output nodes 334 and 404 of the amplifiers 300 and 304and the output node 416 of the amplifier 306 go low. Under this senseamplifier and output circuitry arrangement, all changes in state arefrom high to low. No low-to-high transitions, which are the slowertransitions, are required in the chain of amplifiers. Therefore, in thechain of amplifiers, the clocks can be separated by only a fraction ofthe propagation delay of a single stage. In other words, the output datain this case will be valid after the propagation delay of a singlestage.

[0051]FIG. 7 illustrates a combination of a static memory cell and asense amplifier and output circuitry that embodies aspects of thepresent invention. In the illustration of FIG. 7, the static memory cell503 is a Flash memory cell. Alternatively, the static memory cell 503may be an EAPROM, EEPROM, PROM, ROM or SRAM cell. The static memory cell503 has an output or drain coupled to a data bit line 505. The memorycell 503 has a source coupled to an electrical potential 509, in thiscase an electrical ground potential. The static memory cell 503 has agate that is coupled to an address word line 507. The embodimentillustrated in FIG. 7 also includes a pre-charge transistor 511 coupledbetween the data bit line 505 and an electrical potential 513, in thiscase a high electrical potential. As will be understood by those ofordinary skill in the art, the pre-charge transistor 511 will pre-chargethe data bit line 505 to the value of the potential 513 when the gate ofthe pre-charge transistor 511 is at a low potential, as the pre-chargetransistor 511 is, in this illustration, a PMOS transistor. Anappropriate timing signal may be used to control the pre-chargetransistor 511 to appropriately pre-charge the data bit line 505.

[0052] During operation of the device of FIG. 7, if the floating gate515 of the static memory cell 503 is not charged, when the address wordline 507 is raised to a high potential, the output or drain of thestatic memory cell 503 will pull down any potential on the data bit line505. If, on the other hand, the floating gate 515 in the static memorycell 503 is charged, the memory cell 503 will not discharge a potentialon the data bit line 505 when the address word line 507 is activated.The charged and uncharged states of the floating gate 515 in the staticmemory cell 503 may be used to represent logic “0” and “1” states. Thestate of the memory cell 503 may be detected by the sense amplifier 521by detecting the potential on the data bit line 505 after the addressword line 507 has been activated.

[0053] The sense amplifier 521 includes an input transistor 523 whosegate is coupled to the data bit line 505. If the electrical potential onthe data bit line 505 is relatively high, the input transistor 523 willbe enabled to conduct, whereas if the electrical potential on the databit line 505 is relatively low, the input transistor 523 will not beenabled to conduct (or, alternatively, will be enabled to conduct verylittle). Between the input transistor 523 and the electrical potential509 is a transistor 527 whose gate is coupled to receive a clock signalphi1. When the clock signal phi1 is relatively high, the transistor 527will couple the input transistor 523 to the electrical potential 509.The input transistor 523 has a drain or output coupled to a node 531.Coupled between the node 531 and an electrical potential 513 are twoPMOS transistors 525, 529. The PMOS transistor 525 has its gate coupledto an electrical ground potential 509. The PMOS transistor 529 has itsgate coupled to receive the clock signal phi1. When the clock signalphi1 is relatively high, the PMOS transistor 529 will be in anon-conducting state, whereas when the clock signal phi1 is in arelatively low value, the PMOS transistor 529 will be in a conductingstate. During this conducting state, the node 531 will be charged to atleast approximately the potential of the electrical potential 513.

[0054] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 further includes an outputamplifier and driver circuitry 541. The output amplifier and drivercircuitry 541 in the illustrated embodiment is realized in pseudo-NMOStechnology. The node 531 of the sense amplifier 521 is coupled to thegate of an input transistor 543. Coupled between the source of the inputtransistor 543 and the electrical ground potential 509 is a transistor547 whose gate is coupled to receive a clock signal phi2. The output ordrain of the input transistor 543 is coupled to a node 551, and betweenthe node 551 and the electrical potential 513 are two transistors inparallel, PMOS transistor 545 and PMOS transistor 549. PMOS transistor545 has its gate coupled to an electrical ground potential 509, and thePMOS transistor 549 has its gate coupled to receive the clock signalphi2. When the clock signal phi2 is at a relatively low value, the PMOStransistor 549 will conduct to pre-charge the node 551 to at leastapproximately the electrical potential 513. During this period, thetransistor 547 will be relatively non-conducting. When the clock signalphi2 assumes a relatively high value, the PMOS transistor 549 will beturned off, while the transistor 547 will be turned on, effectivelycoupling the source of the input transistor 543 to the electrical groundpotential 509.

[0055] The node 551 is coupled to the gate of an input transistor 553. Atransistor 557 is coupled between the source of the input transistor 553and the electrical ground potential 509. The gate of the transistor 557is coupled to receive a clock signal phi3. The input transistor 553 hasits output or drain coupled to a node 561, which, in the illustratedembodiment, carries the output signal from the output amplifier anddriver circuitry 541. Between the node 561 and the electrical potential513 are two PMOS transistors in parallel, transistor 555 and transistor559. The transistor 555 has its gate coupled to an electrical groundpotential 509, whereas the PMOS transistor 559 has its gate coupled toreceive the clock signal phi3. When the clock signal phi3 is in itsrelatively low value, the PMOS transistor 559 will pre-charge the node561 to at least approximately the value of the electrical potential 513.A capacitor 563 is coupled between the output node 561 and theelectrical ground potential 509. When the node 561 is pre-charged toapproximately the value of the electrical potential 513, the capacitor563 will assist in maintaining that potential at the node 561.

[0056] In the operation of the circuitry shown in FIG. 7, data is readoff the data bit line 505 by the sense amplifier 521, and is furtheramplified and the signal strengthened by the output amplifier and drivercircuitry 541. The sense amplifier 521 is pre-charged and enabled by thetransistors 527, 529 and the clock signal phi1. The output amplifier anddriver circuitry 541 is pre-charged and enabled by the transistors 547,549, 557, 559 and the clock signals phi2 and phi3. Each of the nodes531, 551 and 561 are pre-charged to a relatively high level, i.e., theelectrical potential 513. If the data stored in the static memory cell503 is such that the Flash memory device turns on when the address wordline 507 is activated, the output of the sense amplifier 521, at node531, will stay high when enabled by the clock signal phi1. Only theoutput at node 551 must make a transition from high to low when it isenabled by its clock signal phi2. The data remains valid at the outputnode 561 and becomes unconditionally valid after the start of the clocksignal phi3 or, alternatively, the data appears at the output node 561about one gate delay after the memory cell 503 is accessed.

[0057] If the data in the static memory cell 503 is such that the memorycell transistor does not turn on when the address word line 507 isactivated, the OUTPUT of the sense amplifier 521, at node 531, willtransition from high to low after the clock signal phi1 activates thesense amplifier. The signal at the output node 561 will also transitionfrom high to low after the clock signal phi3 enables that stage. Byseparating the clock signals phi1, phi2 and phi3 by one-third of anormal inverter delay, the valid data will appear at the output node 561after one normal gate delay. In contrast, in a conventional static CMOSor pseudo-NMOS circuit, the data would not be valid at the output untilafter three gate delays.

[0058]FIG. 8 illustrates a combination of a dynamic memory cell and asense amplifier and output circuitry that embodies aspects of thepresent invention. In the illustration of FIG. 8, the dynamic memorycell 603 may be a DRAM cell with one transistor, a DRAM cell with morethan one transistor, a dynamic shift register cell, a CCD output or anyother memory which depends upon the storage or charge on capacitivenodes. The cross-coupled sense amplifier 611 and the amplifiers 631, 641and 651 have been more fully described above. In the operation of thedevice illustrated in FIG. 8, the cross-coupled sense amplifier 611 ispre-charged to approximately one-half of the electrical potential 613.However, the outputs 639, 649 and 659 of the amplifiers 631, 641 and651, respectively, are pre-charged to approximately the value of theelectrical potential 613. In operation, if the sense amplifier 611output on the data bit line 621 goes high when the memory cell 603 isaccessed, the output 639 of the amplifier 631 will transition from highto low. In addition, the output of the sense amplifier 611 on thecomplementary data bit line 623 goes low, and the output 649 of theamplifier 641 will remain at its high pre-charged value. The output 659of the amplifier 651 will remain in its high pre-charged state so thatdata at the output 659 will remain high. The data at the output 659 willbe valid and becomes unconditionally valid at the beginning of the clocksignal phi3. Only the amplifier 631 will change state and transition itsoutput 639 from high to low; however, this transition is a fasttransition and is of no consequence to the output 659.

[0059] If data on the bit line 621 goes low when the dynamic memory cell603 is accessed, the amplifier 631 will not change state, but theamplifier 641 will change state. On the beginning of the clock cyclephi3, the output 659 of the amplifier 651 will transition from high tolow and data at the output 659 will also transition from high to low.Again, because the delay between the clocks is about one-third of anormal signal propagation delay, the data at the output 659 becomesvalid after one normal propagation delay, as opposed to three delays asin a normal sense amplifier scheme.

[0060] As described above, the sensing circuitry of the presentinvention may be employed with advantage in a variety of memory types.For example, the inventive sense amplifier and output circuitry may beutilized in DRAMs, SRAMs, Flash memories, EAPROMs, EEPROMs, EPROMs,PROMs, ROMs, dynamic shift register cells, CCD outputs, or any othermemory type in which data storage is represented in the form of a storedcharge or a stored potential. Moreover, in those cases, for example,where the memory cell provides both TRUE and COMPLEMENTARY outputs, asingle memory cell may be combined with the inventive sensing circuitryto provide improved read access times. By way of further example, incases where a memory cell provides only a single output, the cell may becombined with the inventive sensing circuitry, either alone or togetherwith a reference charge or reference potential, to achieve improved readaccess times. Accordingly, sensing circuits that embody the presentinvention, as set forth in the appended claims, may provide greatlyimproved access times as compared to known sensing circuits.

[0061] The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only,as the invention may be modified and practiced in different butequivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having thebenefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations areintended to the details of construction or design herein shown, otherthan as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that theparticular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified andall such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of theinvention. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth inthe claims below.

What is claimed:
 1. A sense amplifier for an integrated circuit memory,comprising: first and second output nodes; and a pre-charge transistorcoupled to the second output node and adapted to pre-charge the secondoutput node to approximately a first power supply potential, wherein thefirst output node is adapted to be pre-charged to a second power supplypotential, and wherein the sense amplifier is adapted to provide firstand second output signals at the first and second output nodes,respectively, in response to at least a first input signal.
 2. The senseamplifier of claim 1, wherein the sense amplifier is adapted to providefirst and second output signals at the first and second output nodes,respectively, in response to first and second input signals.
 3. Thesense amplifier of claim 2, wherein the first and second input signalsare complementary signals.
 4. The sense amplifier of claim 2, furthercomprising first and second input nodes adapted to receive the first andsecond input signals, respectively, wherein the first and second inputnodes are adapted for coupling to first and second output nodes,respectively, of an integrated circuit memory cell.
 5. The senseamplifier of claim 2, further comprising first and second input nodesadapted to receive the first and second input signals, respectively,wherein the first and second input nodes are adapted for coupling,respectively, to a first integrated circuit memory cell and to areference.
 6. A memory cell and sense amplifier combination in anintegrated circuit, comprising: first and second output nodes; a firsttransistor coupled between a first power supply node and the firstoutput node; a second transistor coupled between the first output nodeand a second power supply node, the second transistor having a gateterminal coupled to a first bit line; a third transistor coupled betweenthe first power supply node and the second output node; a fourthtransistor coupled between the first power supply node and the secondoutput node, the fourth transistor having a gate terminal coupled to aclock signal line, the fourth transistor adapted to pre-charge thesecond output node to approximately a potential at the first powersupply node; a fifth transistor coupled between the second output nodeand the second power supply node, the fifth transistor having a gateterminal coupled to a second bit line; the first output node adapted tobe pre-charged to approximately a potential at the second power supplynode, and the sense amplifier adapted to provide first and second outputsignals at the first and second output nodes, respectively, in responseto signals on the first and second bit lines and a clock signal on theclock signal line; and a memory cell adapted to be controllably coupledto the first bit line.
 7. The memory cell and sense amplifiercombination of claim 6, wherein the memory cell comprises first andsecond output nodes, the first and second output nodes of the memorycell adapted to be controllably coupled to the first and second bitlines, respectively.
 8. The memory cell and sense amplifier combinationof claim 7, wherein the memory cell comprises a static random accessmemory cell.
 9. The memory cell and sense amplifier combination of claim6, further comprising a reference signal line adapted to be controllablycoupled to the second bit line.
 10. The memory cell and sense amplifiercombination of claim 9, wherein the memory cell comprises a dynamicrandom access memory cell.
 11. The memory cell and sense amplifiercombination of claim 9, wherein the memory cell comprises a read-onlymemory cell.
 12. The memory cell and sense amplifier combination ofclaim 9, wherein the memory cell comprises a programmable read-onlymemory cell.
 13. The memory cell and sense amplifier combination ofclaim 9, wherein the memory cell comprises an erasable programmableread-only memory cell.
 14. The memory cell and sense amplifiercombination of claim 9, wherein the memory cell comprises a Flash memorycell.
 15. The memory cell and sense amplifier combination of claim 6,wherein the memory cell comprises a static random access memory cell.16. The memory cell and sense amplifier combination of claim 6, whereinthe memory cell comprises a dynamic random access memory cell.
 17. Thememory cell and sense amplifier combination of claim 6, wherein thememory cell comprises a read-only memory cell.
 18. The memory cell andsense amplifier combination of claim 6, wherein the memory cellcomprises a programmable read-only memory cell.
 19. The memory cell andsense amplifier combination of claim 6, wherein the memory cellcomprises an erasable programmable read-only memory cell.
 20. A sensingcircuit, comprising: a sense amplifier adapted to receive an inputsignal from a memory cell and to provide a first output signal on afirst output node; and an output amplifier adapted to receive the firstoutput signal and to provide a second output signal on a second outputnode, wherein the sense amplifier comprises a sense amplifier pre-chargetransistor coupled between a first power supply node and the firstoutput node, said sense amplifier pre-charge transistor adapted topre-charge the first output node to approximately a first power supplypotential, and wherein the output amplifier comprises an outputamplifier pre-charge transistor coupled between the first power supplynode and the second output node, said output amplifier pre-chargetransistor adapted to pre-charge the second output node to approximatelythe first power supply potential.
 21. The sensing circuit of claim 20,further comprising an output driver adapted to receive the second outputsignal and to provide a third output signal on a third output node,wherein the output driver comprises an output driver pre-chargetransistor coupled between the first power supply node and the thirdoutput node, said output driver pre-charge transistor adapted to receivea third clock signal and pre-charge the third output node toapproximately the first power supply potential.
 22. The sensing circuitof claim 20, wherein the memory cell is a static memory cell.
 23. Thesensing circuit of claim 20, wherein the memory cell is a Flash memorycell.
 24. The sensing circuit of claim 20, wherein the memory cell is anEAPROM cell.
 25. The sensing circuit of claim 20, wherein the memorycell is an EPROM cell.
 26. The sensing circuit of claim 20, wherein thememory cell is a PROM cell.
 27. The sensing circuit of claim 20, whereinthe memory cell is a ROM cell.
 28. The sensing circuit of claim 20,wherein the memory cell is an SRAM cell.
 29. A sensing circuit,comprising: a sense amplifier adapted to receive an input signal from amemory cell and a reference signal, the sense amplifier also adapted toproduce a first output signal indicative of a difference between theinput signal and the reference signal; and an amplifier circuit coupledto the sense amplifier and adapted to receive the first output signalfrom the sense amplifier, the amplifier circuit adapted to produce anamplifier output signal on an output line, wherein the amplifier circuitcomprises a pre-charge transistor coupled between a first power supplynode and the output line, the pre-charge transistor adapted topre-charge the output node to approximately a first power supplypotential.
 30. The sensing circuit of claim 29, wherein the senseamplifier is adapted to produce first and second output signals, thefirst and second output signals indicative of a difference between theinput signal and the reference signal.
 31. The sensing circuit of claim30, wherein the amplifier circuit further comprises: first and secondamplifier circuits, the first amplifier circuit coupled to receive thefirst output signal of the sense amplifier and produce a first amplifieroutput signal on a first output node, the first amplifier circuit havinga first pre-charge transistor coupled to the first output node andadapted to pre-charge the first output node to approximately a firstpower supply potential, the second amplifier circuit coupled to receivethe second output signal of the sense amplifier and produce a secondamplifier output signal on a second output node, the second amplifiercircuit having a second pre-charge transistor coupled to the secondoutput node and adapted to pre-charge the second output node toapproximately the first power supply potential.
 32. The sensing circuitof claim 29, wherein the memory cell is a dynamic memory cell.
 33. Thesensing circuit of claim 29, wherein the memory cell is a dynamic randomaccess memory cell.
 34. The sensing circuit of claim 29, wherein thememory cell is a dynamic shift register cell.
 35. The sensing circuit ofclaim 29, wherein the memory cell is a charge-coupled device.